PHOENIX – The NABC has announced its top Division I Coach and Player of the Year awards for the 2023-24 season. The awards were selected based on a vote of NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson was selected as the NABC Division I Coach of the Year presented by the Marines, while Purdue’s Zach Edey was voted as both the NABC Division I Player of the Year and the NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year.
Edey won both awards last season as well. He becomes the first repeat NABC Division I Player of the Year since Duke’s Jason Williams in 2001 and 2002, and the first repeat NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year selection since Iowa’s Luka Garza in 2020 and 2021.
Houston’s Jamal Shead was named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard was chosen as the NABC Freshman of the Year presented by Adidas.
Sampson led Houston to a 32-5 record this season, including a 15-3 Big 12 mark. The Cougars won the outright Big 12 regular season title, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Edey leads the nation in scoring at 24.6 points per game and ranks second in rebounding average at 12.1 for the Final Four-bound Boilermakers.
Shead averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals, anchoring a Houston defense that leads the nation in scoring defense by allowing just 57.6 points per game.
Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game this season, helping lead Kentucky to a 23-10 overall record and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
NABC Division I Coach of the Year presented by the Marines: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Zach Edey, Purdue
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year: Zach Edey, Purdue
NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Shead, Houston
NABC Freshman of the Year presented by adidas: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
